Community Spanish Facilitator Certificate

This 18-credit-hour certificate program was established in 2003 in response to the increased need for bilingual services due to the growing Hispanic population in our area.

During our program, students learn translation and interpretation skills through role-play and ethical case studies while using customized software and equipment. Students explore the processes to become officially certified by an accrediting body and learn about professional networking both in the Carolinas and at the national level.

While in the program, students put these new skills into practice working as volunteer facilitators in the community through service-learning placements. Graduates are employed as full-time, part-time, or freelance translators and interpreters within local schools, social service and outreach agencies, religious organizations, hospitals, clinics, and more.

Prerequisites: English and Spanish Grammar:English: Students must show proficiency beyond the ENG 090, RED 090, and DRE 098 level. This requirement can be satisfied by scoring 70 or higher on the Writing portion, and 81 or higher on the Reading portion of the COMPASS test; OR, by sending an official, sealed college or university transcript to the Student Information and Records office that documents successful completion of ENG 090 and RED 090 (or DRE098), its equivalent, or higher.

Spanish Grammar: Students must show proficiency beyond the SPA 212 level. This requirement can be fulfilled by taking a placement test during a mandatory information session for program students.* If students have taken SPA 212 and received a grade of “B” or higher within the last three years prior to enrollment in their first program course at Durham Tech, they do not need to take a Spanish Placement Test, but would still need to attend the first hour of a mandatory information session.

The Medical Spanish Facilitator Certificate

The Medical Spanish Facilitator is an advanced 15-credit-hour certificate that prepares students to serve as paraprofessional medical interpreters.

To enroll in Medical Spanish Facilitator certificate program, students must successfully complete the Community Spanish Facilitator certificate program, OR meet with the program director and receive special permission. Students must meet English, Spanish grammar, computer competency requirements AND pass an additional medical Spanish placement/interpreter screening exam. Permission is not automatically granted and is handled on a case-by-case basis. Why start with the Community Spanish Facilitator certificate first? Students must learn the code of ethics, increase fluency, and learn the various modes of interpreting (e.g., consecutive, simultaneous, and on-site translation) before starting the advanced Medical Spanish Facilitator certificate program.

Computer Competency: Students are required to document computer competency when enrolling in the Medical Spanish Facilitator certificate program. If they have taken CIS 110 (Introduction to Computers) or passed the Computer Competency Test, then they can begin program courses, providing that they meet the above requirements. If students take but do not pass the Computer Competency Test, they must meet with the program director AND take CIS 110 before they are allowed to graduate from the program.

Both programs are offered under the Center for the Global Learner, Main Campus, White 58.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you do now while waiting to attend a mandatory information session?Apply online to Durham Tech and select the Community Spanish Facilitator certificate program. (Students should not apply to the Medical Spanish Facilitator program until they have attended a mandatory information session AND received written permission from the program director.) A student ID number will be generated and emailed to you by Admissions and Enrollment Services. Next, have your official, sealed, high school or college/university transcript(s) sent to Durham Tech's Student Information and Records office.

How long will either program take?
It depends on your Spanish grammar placement test results and when you start the program. Students are admitted in both fall and spring semesters, but specific courses are only offered once a year. Students testing out of SPA 212 and starting in the Fall semester may finish at the end of the Spring semester. Students testing out of SPA 212 and starting in the Spring semester will not finish until the end of the next spring semester. Students who do not test out of SPA 212 will need to take additional Spanish courses. Those courses will be recommended to the student based on the results of the Spanish Grammar Placement Test.

Can I be enrolled in any two programs at Durham Tech at the same time?
No.

¿Se puede inscribir en dos programas a la vez?
No.

Can I take one translation or interpreting course just for personal enrichment?
No. To guarantee seats for our program students, only Spanish Facilitator program students may take Spanish Facilitator program courses. (Those courses have a prefix of SPI.)

If I am currently a Durham Tech student, how do I get into a Spanish Facilitator certificate program?
Attend a mandatory program information session, meet English, Spanish Grammar, and Computer Competency requirements (if applicable) AND change your program by going to eforms.durhamtech.edu. (You will login using your WebAdvisor ID and password.)

When are program courses offered?
Both the Community and Medical Spanish Facilitator Certificate programs are offered as a combination of online, hybrid, and evening classes. When program classes meet on campus, it is usually one or two nights per week from 5:45 to 8:30 p.m. For online courses, students read lectures online, participate in online discussion forums, do homework exercises, and send them electronically to their instructor. Students are not required to be online at a specific hour.

Are program courses (SPI courses) offered during the summer?
No. Medical Spanish Facilitator Certificate program students may take MED 121 or MED 122 during the summer, if the courses are available. Students cannot take MED 121 and MED 122 at the same time.

I am currently taking ESL courses but am interested in a Spanish Facilitator Certificate program. What do I do?
Attend a mandatory information session. Take a Spanish grammar placement test and take both the reading and writing portions of the COMPASS test and score 81 or higher (reading) and 71 or higher(writing) . If you do not score that high, you would take Developmental English courses.

I have a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree. Do I really need to take the computer competency test?
Yes. Since this program offers online and hybrid courses, students intending to pursue the Medical Spanish Facilitator Certificate program must be able to demonstrate computer competency before starting the program. If your transcript does not show a computer course equivalent to that of CIS 110 as determined by a DTCC Transcript Evaluation Specialist, then you will need to take the computer competency test.

How long will it take to have my paper work evaluated?
Online application – Two business days. Notification sent to email address that you provide.
Spanish placement test – One week. Notification sent to email address that you provide.
English placement test – You will receive these results in hard copy when you complete the computer-based exam.
Computer competency Test – You will receive these results in hard copy when you complete the computer-based exam.
High School/GED/college/university transcript evaluation – The time for these to be processed depends on the time of year. Please allow two weeks from when Durham Tech receives your transcript from your school. Do not wait until the last minute to request that your transcripts be sent to Durham Tech. For specific questions, please contact Student Information and Records at 919-536-7200, ext. 1800. You may download a Transcript Request form.

I am not a resident of North Carolina and/or I am an international student. Who should I contact to make sure that my documentation is in order so that I may begin classes?
Contact the Director of International Student Services, Heidi White, at whiteh@durhamtech.edu.

I am not a resident of North Carolina and/or I am an international student. Who should I contact to make sure that my documentation is in order so that I may begin classes?
Contact the Director of International Student Services, Heidi White, at whiteh@durhamtech.edu.